Recognized Training Providers

What is a Recognized Training Provider?

A Recognized Training Provider (RTP) is an instructor who receives MREA training and becomes approved to teach the MREA Site Assessment and/or PV Design & Sales Certificate Program at another educational institution.

MREA’s Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Site Assessment Certificate Programs are nationally accredited through IREC. Obtaining national accreditation for a certificate is a time-consuming and expensive process for any institution or instructor to take on by themselves. The MREA has made it easier for an instructor to offer an accredited program at their institution by partnering with the MREA through the Recognized Training Provider program.

Becoming a Recognized Training Provider

The MREA Site Assessment and PV Design and Sales Certificates require the same training foundation, providing a streamlined approach to obtaining both certificates for professional practice and instruction. View the side-by-side comparison of the MREA Certificate Programs.

Steps to Become a Recognized Training Provider

Obtain the MREA Certificate they wish to teach.

Successfully complete the associated MREA instruction course.

Submit a Recognized Training Provider application.

Pay $300 Recognized Training Provider fee. The Recognized Training Provider fee is valid for three years.

Sign the Recognized Training Provider Letter of Agreement.

Renewing Recognized Training Provider Status

Providers must be in good standing with the MREA.

Pay $300 Recognized Training Provider Fee.

Re-sign Recognized Training Provider Letter of Agreement.

Program Provider Requirements

The RTP will use the MREA Online Learning Platform, utilizing the system tools, resources, and standardized curriculum to teach MREA Professional Certificate courses.

The RTP will adhere to the following fee structure:

101 courses: $25 MREA admin fee per student

201 courses: $50 MREA admin fee per student

The RTP will tech mentor (i.e. grade) their students’ report and upload approved practice reports/proposals and completed grading rubrics to MREA’s Online Learning Platform within 365 days of the end of the course. The RTP can arrange to have the MREA tech mentor student reports at $75 per report.

The MREA will conduct random samplings of the submitted practice reports to assure the RTP is grading the reports to meet MREA standards for IREC accreditation.

The RTP will proctor the MREA Certificate Exam (preferably online) for their students. If it is not possible for the RTP to administer the exam, special arrangements can be made with the MREA. If a paper exam format is administered, the exams must be mailed to the MREA to be graded within 30 days of the end of the course or end of the semester. There is a $75 exam fee per student.

Recognized Training Provider Listing

A Recognized Training Provider (RTP) for the Site Assessment Certificate Program is an instructor who receives MREA training and becomes approved to teach the Site Assessment Certificate Program or the Photovoltaic Design and Sales Certificate Program at another educational institution. Are you interested in becoming a Recognized Training Provider? Find more information about the training requirements here.

Below are the educational institutions that also offer the Site Assessment Certificate Program.

Obtaining national accreditation for a certificate is a time consuming and expensive process for any institution or instructor to take on by themselves. The MREA has made it easier for an instructor to offer an accredited program at their institution by partnering with the MREA through the Recognized Training Provider program.

Can a Recognized Training Provider teach at multiple institutions?

Absolutely! The MREA is specifically recognizing the instructor, not the institution as the training provider.

What fees are associated with running the Certificate Program(s) as a Recognized Training Provider?

There are two important fees the MREA charges to administer the Recognized Training Provider program and maintain national IREC accreditation for the certificates.

The first fee is the $300 Recognized Training Provider fee. This fee is charged once every three years.

The second fee is a curriculum use/admin fee. The MREA charges the Recognized Training Provider’s training institution $25 per student who enrolls in any 101 courses and $50 per student who enrolls in any 201 courses. The MREA provides the student with access to the online course and tech mentoring materials. The MREA also provides the instructor with their own tech mentoring grading area online. Most training institutions incorporate curriculum uses fees into the normal course fee or consider it a lab fee.

Yes. The PV Site Assessment Certificate is approved for NABCEP continuing education credits. It is approved for 18 hours for the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification and 12 hours for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification.